This assignment requires students to develop a thesis statement and construct an argumentative essay analyzing conflicts within August Wilson's play 'Fences,' focusing on which conflict drives the narrative. Students must support their arguments with a minimum of three external sources and textual evidence from the play, while adhering to APA citation guidelines. The final product should be 3-4 pages long, formatted according to specified academic standards, and avoid personal pronouns.

1. This assignment focuses on your ability to: create effective
thesis statements; synthesize research, text support, and
personal analyses into a cohesive essay; defend an argument;
properly citie researched material in APA format.
The purpose of completing this assignment is: as a student,
career professional, and individual, learning how to defend your
side of an argument with data, experience, and valid
information is of paramount importance. As a student at Post,
use this assignment to master the objectives listed above,
particularly APA citation and reference page formatting. You
need to know APA and argumentation techniques!
_____________________________________________________
_________
Prompt (what will you be writing about):
· Which conflict does Wilson use most to drive (bring forth,
move forward) all the other elements of the story?
Choose ONE that you feel is more apparent and easier to defend
than the others.
· Troy vs Societyo Troy vs Himselfo Troy vs Family
· Troy vs Death
Instructions (how to get it done):
· You have completed research on August Wilson, his life, and
his plays.
· You have completed reading/viewing Fences by August
Wilson.
· You have read the resources on Conflict in this unit.
· Choose the conflict area that you think will have the strongest
text support.
· Create a thesis statement that clearly states your stance on

2. why this conflict is the driving force of the play and how you’re
going to prove it (see “Helpful Hints” section below).
· Research needed sources so that you have at least 3 outside
sources that are valid and reliable.
· Be sure also to include text examples from the Fences, the
play.
· Defend your thesis in an introduction, at least three supporting
sections, and a conclusion.
· Check in with your instructor with any and all questions.
Requirements:
· Length and format: 3-4 pages.
· You should have at least three outside sources plus text
examples from the play.
· The title page and reference page are also required, but they
should not be factored into the 3-4 page length of the essay.
· It should also be double spaced, written in Times New Roman,
in 12 point font and with 1 inch margins. The essay should
conform to APA formatting and citation style.
· Use the third-person, objective voice, avoiding personal
pronouns such as “I,” “you,” “we,” etc.
· Use APA format for in-text citations and references when
using outside sources and textual evidence.
· Please be cautious about plagiarism. Make sure to use in-text
citations for direct quotes, paraphrases, and new information.
Helpful Notes:
· Thesis:
· Your thesis is the response to the prompt question plus the
supporting areas that you will be using to defend your
argument. Be sure to have a thesis that clearly states which
conflict you feel is the most important and drives the other
conflicts.
· Your thesis could begin with, “In the play, Fences, August
Wilson uses the conflict of
__________ to drive the other conflicts and elements of the

3. ources and evidence:
· Be sure to use things that you have learned about Wilson’s life
and his writings. For example, if you are analyzing Troy and his
father’s conflict, you could bring in information that you
researched about Wilson’s relationship with his own father.
· Include direct quotations from the play. To cite a direct quote
from a play, the format is:
· “quotation” (Wilson,1985, act #, scene #, line #).
OR
· As Wilson (1985) writes, “quote” (act#, scene #, line#).o Use
at least three outside sources. Two of them could be from your
previous research essay. Be sure to include all of these in your
reference page.
Source: Fences by August Wilson (pages 1270-1331)
Argumentative Research Essay Rubric
Does Not Meet Expectations
0-11
Below
Expectations
12-13
Needs
Improvement
14-15
Satisfactory
16-17
Meets
Expectations
18-20
Introduction
Introduction is not present.
Background details
are a random collection of information, unclear, or not related

4. to the topic.
Introduction is attempted and explains the background, but may
lack detail.
Introduction explains the background, including an overview of
the essay’s main points.
Introduction uses interesting anecdotes, questions, or other
information to build interest. Many to all main points are
logically related and developed.
Organization
Many details are not in a logical or expected order. The paper
does
not use paragraphs. Topic and/or transition sentences are not
used
Writing may have little discernible organization, but some
details are not in a logical or expected order. The paper uses
paragraphs ineffectively. Topic and transition sentences are
used inadequately.
Writing has adequate discernible organization. Paragraphs are
generally used effectively. Topic and Transition sentences are
present in some of the sections
Writing is organized and details are placed in a logical order.
Paragraphs are mostly used effectively. Topic and Transition
sentences are used effectively.
Writing is
effective, purposeful, and well-organized. Paragraphs are used
effectively.
Topic and Transition sentences add to the understanding and
flow of the essay.
Persuasiveness
Fails to develop arguments.
Some arguments are developed, but may be missing one or need
further elaboration.
Develops most arguments.
Satisfactorily develops arguments.
Expertly and fully develops arguments.
Evidence and Support

5. Does not include text support and/or text support is not cited.
Very little evidence is given and used in the essay properly.
Research evidence is not incorporated. Evidence may not relate
to the thesis statement. Evidence is cited but not with the proper
formatting.
Some evidence is used from one research source and/or
evidence is somewhat related to the thesis statement. Evidence
may or may not always cited properly.
Evidence is used from two outside sources and/or evidence is
mostly tied to the thesis statement and used properly and is
cited properly.
Evidence is integrated from at least three outside sources and/or
evidence is used effectively and cited properly.
Integration of Knowledge
The essay demonstrates that the author has not fully understood
and applied concepts learned in the course.
The essay demonstrates gaps in knowledge of applied concepts
learned in the course.
The essay demonstrates that the author, to a
certain extent, understands and has applied concepts learned in
the course.
The essay demonstrates that the author, for the most part,
understands and has applied concepts learned in the course.
Some of the conclusions, however, are not
The essay demonstrates that the author fully understands and
has applied concepts learned in the course. Concepts are
integrated into the writer’s own insights. The writer provides
supported in the body of the paper.
concluding remarks that show analysis and synthesis of ideas.
APA
Format

6. APA format is not followed.
Errors evident throughout all of the areas: 1 inch margins,
correctly formatted title page, correctly formatted reference
page, double spacing,
Times New
Roman,12 font.
Errors evident in three to four of the areas of: 1 inch margins,
correctly formatted title page, correctly formatted reference
page, double spacing,
Times New
Roman, 12 font.
Errors evident in one to two of the areas of: 1 inch margins,
correctly formatted title page, correctly formatted reference
page, double spacing,
Times New
Roman, 12 font.
Free of errors in: 1 inch margins, correctly formatted
title page, correctly formatted reference page, double spacing,
Times New
Roman, 12 font.
Grammar and Mechanics
Grammar and mechanics’ errors make the essay
incomprehensible.
Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and mechanics errors occur
throughout document. Word choices are seldom academic.
Sentence structure may be illogical or unclear.
Several errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling and mechanics
present. Word
choice reveals some
understanding of academic language requirements. Many
sentence structure issues exist.
Some spelling, grammar, punctuation and mechanical errors are
evident. Academic language is upheld. The sentence structure
is often logical and clear so that relationships among ideas are
established.

7. Free of punctuation, spelling, grammar, and other mechanical
errors. Consistent use of academic word choices. Sentence
structure is mostly logical and clear.
*A zero can be earned if the above criteria are not met.
*Plagiarism will result in a zero.